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Author Topic: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro  (Read 2567 times)

ilan

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Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« on: May 03, 2019, 02:44:03 PM »
By Steve Wishnevsky

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The guy who bought the same bass twice — first in 1977 and again in 2023

Basvarken

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2019, 03:02:03 PM »
String alignment is incredible too.
And what a design masterpiece altogether!
 :mrgreen:
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Dave W

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2019, 06:02:04 PM »
 :mrgreen:

Time to post my photo of the pre-CBS Wishbass again.

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Chris P.

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2019, 09:38:20 AM »
I see a face in that bass and it says: please kill me.
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Chris P.

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2019, 09:40:00 AM »
BTW: no lecture of me this time, about you guys being negative ;)
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Alanko

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2019, 01:58:53 PM »
No idea why Talkbass carries a candle for this guy.

But... but... once you level the fingerboard, install some proper pickups and electronics, replace the hardware, tidy up all the routing and give it a proper finish they are half decent basses!

The Wish guy got very lucky. I never got the feeling it was a joke at his expense. People definitely wanted the exclusivity factor of a hand-built bass for the price of a used Mexican Fender. The guy did some astonishingly crude work but, at the heard of it, there seems to have been some passable woodworking taking place.



Just, wow.

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westen44

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2019, 02:36:52 PM »
Quote from: Chris P. on May 04, 2019, 09:38:20 AM
I see a face in that bass and it says: please kill me.

LMAO!!
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Rob

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2019, 03:34:56 PM »
Quote from: Chris P. on May 04, 2019, 09:38:20 AM
I see a face in that bass and it says: please kill me.
:rimshot:
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Dave W

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2019, 06:08:59 PM »
Quote from: Chris P. on May 04, 2019, 09:38:20 AM
I see a face in that bass and it says: please kill me.

I'm not sure about that. The knot seems to be winking at us.

Quote from: Alanko on May 04, 2019, 01:58:53 PM
No idea why Talkbass carries a candle for this guy.

TB is big enough that some people are bound to like them, and there are probably rules there against making fun of others' basses.
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westen44

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2019, 06:25:23 PM »
Yes, I think there are rules like that, but in this case making an exception would be understandable. 
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It's not those who write the laws that have the greatest impact on society.  It's those who write the songs.

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ajkula66

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2019, 06:36:09 PM »
Wasn't the gentleman in question involved in several Ovation designs a few decades ago? I'm pretty stunned at the stuff that I'm seeing in this thread since I have next to no knowledge of his current work...
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"...knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules..." (King Crimson)

Dave W

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2019, 10:50:28 PM »
Quote from: ajkula66 on May 26, 2019, 06:36:09 PM
Wasn't the gentleman in question involved in several Ovation designs a few decades ago? I'm pretty stunned at the stuff that I'm seeing in this thread since I have next to no knowledge of his current work...

I had never heard of him having any association with Ovation but he claims to have studied guitar physics for two  years with their chief engineer (Jim Rickard) and a jazz guitar maker, about 40 years ago. Could be true. Please excuse me if I doubt it. I've seen too many claims that can't be substantiated and turned out not to be true.
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Basvarken

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #12 on: May 27, 2019, 08:29:52 AM »
Quote
studied guitar physics

Wahahhaaaaaaa!!!
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Highlander

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2019, 12:26:56 PM »
Could that be "stidied guitar psychics..." ? :mrgreen:
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ajkula66

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Re: Installing pickups on a bass like a pro
« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2019, 02:27:28 PM »
Quote from: Dave W on May 26, 2019, 10:50:28 PM
I had never heard of him having any association with Ovation but he claims to have studied guitar physics for two  years with their chief engineer (Jim Rickard) and a jazz guitar maker, about 40 years ago. Could be true. Please excuse me if I doubt it. I've seen too many claims that can't be substantiated and turned out not to be true.

Oh I understand the skepticism...and then some... :mrgreen:

Mr. Wishnevsky claims something along those lines in his online biography/resume/call it what you will

Quote
In 1978, Mr. Wishnevsky accepted a position with Ovation Instruments in New Hartford, Connecticut, where he was able to study under James Rickard again and to exchange ideas with other master luthiers such as Seth Hedu, of Watertown, Connecticut, and Richard Starky, now of Martin guitars.

source: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/wishnevsky

He got trashed pretty badly in a thread on TB some 15 years ago

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/wishnevsky.55621/page-17

What I find beyond ironic is that one of the cats who were trashing him at the time was Darrin Huff... :o
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"...knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules..." (King Crimson)
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